The pre-candidate for the Presidency of the Republic and senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) came out in defense of the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), after criticism from Bolsonaro supporters regarding his participation in the launch of the channel SBT News. In an interview with the Intelligence Ltda podcast this Tuesday, the 16th, the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro highlighted the electoral importance of Tarcísio as a platform and preached unity in the political field, despite differences.
“Tarcísio is not a traitor in any way. He is a fundamental, vital piece in this mechanism that we will articulate in all states to be successful in the national election”, said Flávio. “There are divergences, there are points of no convergence, but they need to be put aside now, because there is a greater objective.”
The senator assessed that Tarcísio’s participation in the Silvio Santos broadcaster’s event – when President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), sent messages to their opponents – was marked by an “uncomfortable” episode and classified the moment as a “bad day for everyone involved”. He reiterated that the governor would have shown embarrassment when he was caught applauding Moraes’ speech, a reaction that, in Flávio’s assessment, would have been merely protocol.
Continues after advertising
“I’m not saying that he shouldn’t receive criticism or that you can’t speak badly in some situation. But it’s not reasonable to label someone like Tarcísio, governor of the state with the largest GDP and the largest electoral college in Brazil, as an enemy”, he continued. “He needs to be strong, ‘Flávio Bolsonaro’ needs to be strong, and everyone in our political field. Even if, at first, they don’t walk with us.”
Flávio reiterated that, when launching his pre-candidacy, he initially sought out the head of the São Paulo Executive, with whom he said he had a frank conversation at Palácio dos Bandeirantes. He highlighted Tarcísio’s loyalty to Bolsonaro and highlighted that his father identified in his ally an “executive profile” valued by São Paulo voters, a characteristic that, in his assessment, Tarcísio demonstrated both at the head of the Ministry of Infrastructure and in command of the state government. For the senator, the national strategy involves the Southeast, and Tarcísio’s re-election in São Paulo would represent a decisive platform for the right-wing camp.
“Zero Um” also spoke about former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro (PL) who was widely mentioned as a possible candidate for Planalto in place of Bolsonaro. He considered the criticism directed at her exaggerated, arguing that he was the retired captain’s son and had a better relationship with his stepmother and had never had any conflicts.
